Published: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11:19 p.m.

Brody Acosta, 8, led his family back to their cars from the Ambrosia parade in Thibodaux Saturday night with a plastic wagon full of throws.

The wagon had held his 2-year-old cousin on their walk to the parade earlier that day, but it was now overflowing with beads, stuffed animals and other toys.

Rare is the child who leaves a Mardi Gras parade without an armful of trinkets, and children watching the Krewe of Ambrosia and the all-women Krewe of Aquarius in Houma were no exception.

Devoni Danos of Raceland, who brought her daughter Danae Sapia to Aquarius, said the parade is a good one for families.

"The women are very good to the kids," Danos said.

Angel Babin of Lockport, who attended with Danos, agreed.

"The kids just enjoy it so much. It's all about the kids." Babin said,

Both also said the end of the parade near Southland Mall tends to be a better atmosphere for kids than closer to downtown.

Pamela and Steven Comardelle of Lockport make the trip with their children to Houma for Aquarius every year, citing the parade as one of the more family-friendly in the area. They like "celebrating and getting beads, being around people and family," Pamela Comardelle said.

Steven Comardelle added that at the Aquarius parade, "it's more family-oriented, and everyone gets along."

In Thibodaux, Ambrosia paraded at night rather than the daytime Saturday for the second year in a row, and Acosta's family said having the parade at night doesn't make it any less family-oriented.

If it goes off without a hitch this year, Ambrosia will be a night parade permanently, city officials have said.

Five-year-old Kasia Thomas, who was thrown a mesh bag bursting with foam footballs, said she likes the night parade, though her grandmother Dawn Mollere, of Labadieville, said the parade is a little scarier at night.

Mollere was standing at Canal Boulevard and Jackson Street, as was Thibodaux resident Sharon Mack.

"There's not enough light. You can't see the kids with no light," said Mack, who was watching over three pre-teen girls at the parade.

But Peggy Davis, who was standing in the same area with a group of about 20 friends and family in their regular parade spot, said seeing Ambrosia as a night parade is great.

<p>Brody Acosta, 8, led his family back to their cars from the Ambrosia parade in Thibodaux Saturday night with a plastic wagon full of throws.</p><p>The wagon had held his 2-year-old cousin on their walk to the parade earlier that day, but it was now overflowing with beads, stuffed animals and other toys.</p><p>Rare is the child who leaves a Mardi Gras parade without an armful of trinkets, and children watching the Krewe of Ambrosia and the all-women Krewe of Aquarius in Houma were no exception.</p><p>Devoni Danos of Raceland, who brought her daughter Danae Sapia to Aquarius, said the parade is a good one for families. </p><p>"The women are very good to the kids," Danos said.</p><p>Angel Babin of Lockport, who attended with Danos, agreed. </p><p>"The kids just enjoy it so much. It's all about the kids." Babin said, </p><p>Both also said the end of the parade near Southland Mall tends to be a better atmosphere for kids than closer to downtown.</p><p>Pamela and Steven Comardelle of Lockport make the trip with their children to Houma for Aquarius every year, citing the parade as one of the more family-friendly in the area. They like "celebrating and getting beads, being around people and family," Pamela Comardelle said. </p><p>Steven Comardelle added that at the Aquarius parade, "it's more family-oriented, and everyone gets along."</p><p>In Thibodaux, Ambrosia paraded at night rather than the daytime Saturday for the second year in a row, and Acosta's family said having the parade at night doesn't make it any less family-oriented.</p><p>If it goes off without a hitch this year, Ambrosia will be a night parade permanently, city officials have said.</p><p>Five-year-old Kasia Thomas, who was thrown a mesh bag bursting with foam footballs, said she likes the night parade, though her grandmother Dawn Mollere, of Labadieville, said the parade is a little scarier at night.</p><p>Mollere was standing at Canal Boulevard and Jackson Street, as was Thibodaux resident Sharon Mack.</p><p>"There's not enough light. You can't see the kids with no light," said Mack, who was watching over three pre-teen girls at the parade.</p><p>But Peggy Davis, who was standing in the same area with a group of about 20 friends and family in their regular parade spot, said seeing Ambrosia as a night parade is great.</p><p>"It's fun," Davis said. "It's something we don't always get around here." </p><p>Today, the Krewe of Hyacinthians and the Krewe of Titans will hold parades in Houma.</p><p>Hyacinthians turns 62 with its Sunday morning parade.</p><p>The 375-plus-member, all-female krewe will parade at 11 a.m. in west Houma with 17 floats.</p><p>This year's theme is "Let's Play," and the parade will feature marching bands from Vandebilt Catholic, H.L. Bourgeois and Ellender Memorial high schools, and Evergreen Junior High School.</p><p>The Krewe of Titans will roll through Houma following the Hyacinthians parade under the theme "Titans Invites You to Storyland."</p><p>The 500-plus-member krewe of men, woman and children is set to feature 25 floats and the Morgan City High School marching band.</p><p>Staff Photographer Chris Heller contributed to this story. Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>